Aphasia Awareness

Imagine….
You suddenly lost your ability to,
understand speech, to talk, to read, and to write…..
….but you had not lost your intelligence…..

June is Aphasia awareness month

Aphasia is a language difficulty caused by damage to the brain. People with aphasia may have difficulty with;
Talking and Listening, Reading and Writing, Using numbers and Using gestures

People with aphasia are competent and intelligent.

APHASIA MAY AFFECT:

  • Everyday communication
  • Relationships
  • Everyday living

APHASIA MAY ALSO BE CALLED:
Dysphasia (dis – phaze – yuh)
or
Anomia (difficulty finding words)

What causes aphasia?
Head injury, tumours, or infections and inflammation in the brain may be other causes.

REMEMBER:
Aphasia affects every person differently. Some people have only mild difficulties, others have very severe communication problems.

  • People with aphasia are competent and intelligent.
  • People with aphasia still have thoughts, opinions and emotions.
  • People with aphasia can still solve problems.
  • People with aphasia can still hear and see
  • People with aphasia can still make decisions
  • People with aphasia often know what they want to say, but have difficulties getting their messages out.

Read some personal stories about people with aphasia

http://aphasia.org.au/personal-stories/

Information about aphasia:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLp6fU5by-R2iGqOKMH08Bea1Izsg2mjfj  

Speech pathologists can help with diagnosis and management of aphasia, including identifying strengths and strategies to assist with all communication modalities (Talking, Listening, Reading, Writing, using numbers and gestures)